This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
what makes you think that it'll all work out in the end.
afraid to feel bad. better off to try and pretend. I'm
immortal, immune to all that is wrong. just keep on wishing.
crossing my fingers. so long. is this helping? i'm growning
weaker each day. can't stop whining.
still afraid of what i might say or reactions, that control us one and all.
It's mine, it's pure and as decent as i can make myself.
Inside, we all know, only the strong survive.
Why don't you think about that?
so now i'm bleeding on myself yes once again.
seems i trusted another deceitful freind. my fault. should've known the deal.
keep your friends close, but your enemies closer, for real.
seems easy, but nothing could be so hard. trying to guess lifes
dealing. what's the next card? I'm surely folding.
i don't like this hand at all.
It's mine, it's pure and as decent as i can make myself.
Inside, we all know, only the strong survive.
Keep those eyes wide open, here comes a blind side.
maybe things happen for a reason and wherein lies the answer.
to overcome the grieving of lifes unruly lessons. i'm handed
in sucession. it builds my pain which makes me strong.
It's mine, it's pure and as decent as i can make myself.
Inside, we all know, only the strong survive.
Why don't you think about that?
afraid to feel bad. better off to try and pretend. I'm
immortal, immune to all that is wrong. just keep on wishing.
crossing my fingers. so long. is this helping? i'm growning
weaker each day. can't stop whining.
still afraid of what i might say or reactions, that control us one and all.
It's mine, it's pure and as decent as i can make myself.
Inside, we all know, only the strong survive.
Why don't you think about that?
so now i'm bleeding on myself yes once again.
seems i trusted another deceitful freind. my fault. should've known the deal.
keep your friends close, but your enemies closer, for real.
seems easy, but nothing could be so hard. trying to guess lifes
dealing. what's the next card? I'm surely folding.
i don't like this hand at all.
It's mine, it's pure and as decent as i can make myself.
Inside, we all know, only the strong survive.
Keep those eyes wide open, here comes a blind side.
maybe things happen for a reason and wherein lies the answer.
to overcome the grieving of lifes unruly lessons. i'm handed
in sucession. it builds my pain which makes me strong.
It's mine, it's pure and as decent as i can make myself.
Inside, we all know, only the strong survive.
Why don't you think about that?
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
I think this song is saying that he finds bliss in ignorance and so he wants to be ignorant, which makes him weak. If you don't know about something, you don't worry about it...but you're weak therefore you won't survive without knowing.